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PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

P. E. v. BAINES. DEVICE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHARPENING 0F LEAD PENGILS, GRAYONS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14.1903.-

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WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES Patented. January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK V. BAINES, OF GREENWIOH, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHARPENING OF LEAD-PENCILS, CRAYONS, OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,713, dated. January 19, 1904.

Application filed September 14,1903. Serial No. 173,143. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIcK EDWARD VESEY BAINES, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 16 Gloucester Terrace, Greenwich, in the county of Kent, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Use in Connection with the Sharpening of Lead-Pencils, Crayons, and the Like, (for which I have applied for Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 1238a, bearing date of May 30,1903) of which the following is a full and complete specification.

The present invention relates to a new or improved device for use in connection with the sharpening of lead-pencils, crayons, and the like, its object being to overcome the difficulties experienced by unskilled persons in trying to sharpen with an ordinary penknife the usual black-lead and the like pencils to a satisfactory point.

Hitherto with the usual pencil sharpening or cutting devices the knife or cutter has been a constant source of trouble, quickly becoming blunt and practically useless, and when the pencil has been cut with a knife not only is an uneven point produced, but the hands of the operator become soiled in the operation.

The present invention comprises, essentially, a holder adapted to receive the pencil or the like to be sharpened and a guide or its equivalent for the blade of the pen or otherknife used for the cutting or sharpening operation, the said guide being so arranged and shaped with respect to the holder and the pencil or the like that the depth and shape of the cut produced by the knife traversing the guide produces an even and regular point on rotating the pencil within the said holder.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, one form this invention may assume, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the device. Figs. 2 and 3 are views in end elevation and plan, respectively, thereof. Fig. 4 is a view in section on line w m of Fig. 3,and Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the device in use. Fig. 6 is a view in plan of a modified device, and Fig. 7 is aview in section on line y y of Fig. 6.

Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.

A convenient construction comprises a holder A, having a longitudinal groove a, adapted to receive the pencil, formed by suitably pressing or stamping a sheet-metal blank, the edges or sides a of which are beaded or bent into a hollow cylindrical form, as shown. The groove 0; is of any convenient shape in cross-section, either V-shaped or preferably semicircular, whereby not only are round pencils of varying size accommodated, but also hexagonal pencils. The guiding-surface B for the knife X is also formed from a sheetmetal, preferably steel, blank, and preferably attached to the holder by forming on said blank two prongs 6, adapted to be gripped by the convolution of the metal blank forming the beaded edges. To prevent said guide being displaced, the prongs b are provided with turned-up ends 6, engaging slots formed in the edges of the said holder-blank.

The guide B is formed as a flat or, preferably as shown, curved surface corresponding to the desired shape of the point of the pencil 'and is so attached to the holder that its under side lightly presses upon the pencil Y, inserted within the groove a.

The central or middle portion of the surface B is cut away, so as to allow a portion of the pencil which is equal to the length of point produced to protrude or project above the sides formed by cutting away said central portion of the guide, and the remainder of the guide presents a broad and smooth bearing-surface for the knife to rest upon before the commencement of each cut as well as throughout the length of the same.

A transverse stop biformed in one with the guide B, and the edge of which is slightly below the outer surface of the guide, forms an abutment for the end of the pencil which is to be pointed, the whole arrangement being such that on placing an unpointed pencil Y within the groove a and against the said stop 72 a definite and determined amount of the wood and lead of the pencil is removed throughout the length of the point produced on causing a knife X to traverse the upper side of the guiding-surface. The pencil is then partially rotated, causing a fresh portion to be exposed to the cutting action of the knife, and so continued until the point is produced.

The holder A is made of a convenient shape, preferably that shown, and of a suflicient size for the purpose of enabling it to be held comfortably and yet firmly in the fingers of one hand while rotating the pencil with the thumb of the same hand, the knife being held in the other hand of the user.

It will be understood that the holder A and guiding-surface B and a suitable abutment for the end of pencil may be formed from a single sheet-metal blank, if desired.

' In some cases a sliding clip 0 (see Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed in order to keep the guiding-surface B flat and in contact with the upper surface of the holder A when not required for use.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide guiding-surfaces for enabling the depth and shape of cut of a penknife to be controlled for the purpose of sharpening pencils; but

What I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. A guide for use in connection with sharpening lead-pencils comprising a holder having beaded edges, a longitudinal pencil groove formed throughout the length of said holder and of a shape and depth approximating to half the diameter of the pencil, a curved knifeblade-guiding surface attached to one end of said holder at an angle therewith adapted to bear on the pencil and having a portion of its surface cut away in order to allow a portion of the end of the pencil equal in length to the length of point produced to project above the surface of said guide the remainder of which presents a broad and smooth surface for the knife to rest upon before the commencement of the cut as well as throughout the length of the same and a transverse stop adapted to form an abutment for the end of the pencil, as set forth.

2. A guide for use in connection with sharpening lead-pencils comprisinga holder having beaded edges, a longitudinal pencil-groove formed throughout the length of said holder of a shape and depth approximating to half the diameter of the pencil, a curved knifeblade-guiding surface attached to one end of said holder at an angle therewith adapted to bear on the pencil and having a portion of its surface cut away in order to allow a portion of the end of the pencil equal in length to the length of point produced to project above the surface of said guide the remainder of which presents a broad and smooth surface for the knife to rest upon before the commencement of the cut as Well as throughout the length of the same, a transverse stop adapted to form an abutment for the end of the pencil, and a clip sliding on said holder and adapted to engage the guiding-surface and keep it fiat in contact with the said holder when not in use, as

set forth.

FRED. E. V. BAINES. Witnesses:

A. MILLWARD FLAoK, HEDLEY J. HARROP. 

